Confirmed with Link: Tomas Hertl 17% retained, 2025 3rd, 2027 3rd to Vegas for C David Edstrom, 2025 1st

[tahoesharksfan]

This team is practically a fresh slate now.

This team is actually a fresh slate now.
I’m a little upset at having to suffer through almost two seasons now just to get to this point. If GMMG doesn’t show some obvious progress next season I’m going to be even more upset.

 

[CaptainShark]

i haven’t had the time to read everything that has been said, so excuse me if my post is repetitive:

I am stunned by the general negativity and the lack of ability to separate one’s emotional reaction to the trade from one’s rational perspective on the trade.

Emotionally this is very tough for me, as Hertl was my favorite current Sharks and has been ever since Patty left the first time. Having been through that with the Nolan trade and Patty leaving, the sting isn’t as bad as it was back then, just because you learn to deal with it.

Still from a hockey trade perspective, the deal is good to great, depending on where Vegas finishes in 24/25. Edstrom was their top prospect and probably becomes our #4 or #5 ahead or just below Bystedt. Some say he has 2nd line upside but even a solid 3C can not be underrated. By getting rid of Hertl, we improve our odds at another top3 pick next year tremendously.

The only downside to losing Hertl is that you have to have some great veterans around to ease in the next generation. But clearly, Hertl wasn’t up to that task. Losing weight on his mind and there is no doubt in my mind that he told Grier that he would like to be traded (in the summer). There was a quote on SJHN a few weeks ago that kinda gave that away and Grier saying Hertl „deserved to play for a contender“ is proof to me that Hertl indeed wanted out. If he was 100% committed to being a mentor and cheerleader for the next generation, than I would have been in favor of keeping him for the rest of the contract, even if it’s value looks bad from an expected on ice standpoint in a few years. Clearly that wasn’t the case, so what else should GMMG have done?

Am I thrilled that it’s Vegas? No, of course that sucks and I can’t stand watching him in that Jersey. But I have to give the benefit of the doubt to Grier on that one, that this was the best deal available. In that case, he has to do whats best for us without considering the emotions we feel when we think about Hertl in a VGK jersey.

 

[Grave]

I expected this last year and was rather disappointed they waited to pull the trigger. Felt like they were only leading the young players on. Excited about the future of the team.

 

[zombie kopitar]

I haven't read a single thing about this trade and it's value, I just have to say, wtf our dear Ninja Hertl is going to Vegas.....fun must be always?; idk man. But what a joyful and meteoric rise he had, Hertl-Thornton-Burns was the most exciting line in Sharks history, legend shit

 

[Hodge]

I am going to gouge my eyes out if I have to read another person complain about giving up the 3rd round picks. We're talking about picks that historically have less than a 10% chance of becoming a NHL player. One of them is also three years out and can easily be recouped by then. If that's what it took to get the 1st and Edstrom you do that every time.

 

[karltonian]

I'm coming around on this. The Sharks are literally unwatchable at this time and will be for a while, might as well watch Hertl light it up with good players.

 

[LadyStanley]

 

[one2gamble]

I'm a few bourbons deep and I still think the retention is stupid and f*** vegas

 

[Pavelski2112]

I am going to gouge my eyes out if I have to read another person complain about giving up the 3rd round picks. We're talking about picks that historically have less than a 10% chance of becoming a NHL player. One of them is also three years out and can easily be recouped by then. If that's what it took to get the 1st and Edstrom you do that every time.

Yea honestly 3rd round picks are free assets for the Sharks, considering the Sharks have drafted like two or three even semi-regular NHLers out of 3rds

 

[TheBeard]

Im not ready for this.

 

[Pavelski2112]

Im not ready for this.

 

[TheBeard]

This is the kind of thing I’ll look back on in two three years and be behind, but it’s gonna take a long time before I’m ready to accept the reality of the situation.

 

[timorous me]

This is the kind of thing I’ll look back on in two three years and be behind, but it’s gonna take a long time before I’m ready to accept the reality of the situation.

Yeah, emotionally this is really tough. I'm going to miss Hertl a ton--his smiles, his interviews where he'd speak hilariously fast, and of course his ability on the ice. And it's going to be hard at first (maybe always!) to watch him in a Vegas uniform. I imagine it's especially hard when you have to live there!

In a way, him being injured right now might make it a little easier to move on, since he hadn't been playing for a while anyway. And we won't see him with Vegas right away. It's also nice that we got not just a pick but an actual prospect in this deal, though I hope Edstrom doesn't have too high of expectations put on him.

So while I've been progressively moving on from a logical perspective throughout the day, I certainly don't want to take away anything anyone's feeling from an emotional point of view. But I do think Hertl clearly wanted this move, and I think it's quite possible no other team would have made a move for him, now or in the summer, so that helps me accept the Vegas part of it a little more.

I just REALLY can't wait for the day when Vegas properly suffers and the fans see what it's like having to deal with a shitty team for multiple years in a row.

 

[Pavelski2112]

*Old man yelling at cloud* Rivalries used to mean something back in my day

 

[Tw1ster]

*Old man yelling at cloud* Rivalries used to mean something back in my day

It’s funny, being near Vancouver as a Sharks fan, when both the Sharks and Canucks were contending at the same time, the rivalry was everything for me. I couldn’t stand the Canucks and might have even prayed for the Nucks to lose to Boston in the Stanley Cup finals, but now that the Sharks are bad, I really could care less who wins, and that includes teams that used to be rivals. I can’t wait to really hate again

 

[TheBeard]

Yeah, emotionally this is really tough. I'm going to miss Hertl a ton--his smiles, his interviews where he'd speak hilariously fast, and of course his ability on the ice. And it's going to be hard at first (maybe always!) to watch him in a Vegas uniform. I imagine it's especially hard when you have to live there!

In a way, him being injured right now might make it a little easier to move on, since he hadn't been playing for a while anyway. And we won't see him with Vegas right away. It's also nice that we got not just a pick but an actual prospect in this deal, though I hope Edstrom doesn't have too high of expectations put on him.

So while I've been progressively moving on from a logical perspective throughout the day, I certainly don't want to take away anything anyone's feeling from an emotional point of view. But I do think Hertl clearly wanted this move, and I think it's quite possible no other team would have made a move for him, now or in the summer, so that helps me accept the Vegas part of it a little more.

I just REALLY can't wait for the day when Vegas properly suffers and the fans see what it's like having to deal with a shitty team for multiple years in a row.

Like I’ve said many times here, try living in Vegas and having to deal with undoubtedly the most arrogant and apathetic fan base in sports.

 

[Levie]

I feel like the only person who hasn't cared about a single player since Thornton left. I only wish we got rid of hertl before the extension

 

[Shark Finn]

Mike Grier essentially doing his best to cover up for Joe Will's mistake of going the easy route of re-signing Hertl. Why is Will the GM of the Barracuda anyway?

I like the analogy that without Hertl's massive contract this deal would've been probably Edström + 1st for Hertl. What I don't like is giving up two 3rd rounders. Yeah, they're magic beans at best, but still. Essentially upgrading the early 3rd rounder in '25 to a (possible) late 1st in '25. I hope Vegas implodes - likely more than ever - but I'm not holding my breath.

Hertl wanted out and I don't blame him. Yes, he went to Vegas. Not the ideal destination, but who knows if it was the only destination worth discussing a trade. This isn't the NHL video game series.

The talk about rivalry is funny. This isn't 2019. Vegas got their Cup and the Sharks are irrelevant. The point of a rivalry is that the teams compete on which one comes out on top. Let's check back in a decade or so.

Finally, this will be very hard to sell to a casual fan. I've seen clueless people wonder in social media that why doesn't the team spend to add good players, the team used to be good etc. I hope we avoid the Buffalo-route.

 

[TheBeard]

So far I’ve had two different Vegas friends hit me up about what size “hertel” jersey I want if you want to somewhat understand what it’s like living here.

I know many of you won’t understand because Grier made a saavy “business decision” in your mind, but keep in mind just how demoralizing something like this is for some of us.

 

[Cas]

Getting an JEE type of guy would be nice considering everything.

That's probably his 99% percentile ceiling. Getting JEE would be winning the lottery. Much more realistic is something like Barclay Goodrow.

 

[PeePeeMcGee]

Meier was a wash at best. Every other transaction involving Grier has been nothing short of a God damned embarrassment.

Apart from this Hertl trade since Mike Grier has taken over, in terms of trades, I've liked:

- Trading down in the 2022 Entry Draft (They got Lund, Havelid, and Bystedt out of that)
- Meier trade (Mukhamadullin has upside, Musty is seriously nasty, Zetterlund has been fine)
- Blackwood for a 6th
- Swapping Duclair for Jack Thompson

The Sharks went from having no real future and no prospects to one of the better prospect pools while also tanking. It's ugly now, but I think this will probably get better.

 

[CaptainShark]

That's probably his 99% percentile ceiling. Getting JEE would be winning the lottery. Much more realistic is something like Barclay Goodrow.

That would be on the lower end of outcomes, I suppose…

 

[ThorNton Apologist]

This one Herts. Anyone else felt this low as a Sharks fan? I’ve watched almost every game since 2002 but this just hits different. Was even at game 6 of the SCF but this just feels different. I believe in Mike Grier but at the same time…. is this city really gonna survive this scorched earth rebuild? Damn Joe Will for offering that contract but after it was signed, Hertl was meant to retire in teal.

 

[CanadienShark]

Rebuilds are tough and the tear downs hurt so much. But it is needed for us to be good again.

The Sharks were a tough team to play against at one time but we must let go of players that have ties to the past playoff sharks team like Colture and Hertl.

Thats going to be a tough road and long long time before we get the opportunity to win once again in the playoffs.

I agree. It would've been nice to get a fair return and NOT give him at a discount to a rival though. We shot ourselves in the dick for no reason.

 

[RussianShark]

Like I’ve said many times here, try living in Vegas and having to deal with undoubtedly the most arrogant and apathetic fan base in sports.

They took my Raiders... trying to take my A's... and the folks I know there could care less. Knights are a different type of stink though.

Awful sports town

This one Herts. Anyone else felt this low as a Sharks fan? I’ve watched almost every game since 2002 but this just hits different. Was even at game 6 of the SCF but this just feels different. I believe in Mike Grier but at the same time…. is this city really gonna survive this scorched earth rebuild? Damn Joe Will for offering that contract but after it was signed, Hertl was meant to retire in teal.

At the end of the day... Hertl chose to waive the NMC. Helps rationalize this. But this is a slow and painful rebuild.